Man hit as car crashes at Newport Flea Mall

Published: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 02:17 PM.

NEWPORT — A car driven by a 93-year-old Beaufort man crashed into a wing of Newport Flea Mall on Saturday morning, hitting booths inside and one man, before exiting through the other wall.

The car, driven by Edward Lupton of Beaufort, stopped after striking a utility trailer and two cars parked outside, said Trooper R.O. Melby, who investigated the 11:15 a.m. accident for N.C. Highway Patrol.

“It caused quite a commotion and one man was injured,” said Melby, after leaving Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City about 1:30 p.m. where he checked on the condition of the driver and victim Francisco Dominguez of Newport.

Dominguez is in his 30s and Melby said, “He got the worst of the damage. He had on a neck brace when I was at hospital.” He and the driver were up and walking around.

“Lupton appeared to have hit the gas instead of hitting the brake,” Melby said. “He said he blacked out as he was parking his car.”

Damage to flea mall vending booths and contents operated by Isaac Brigman of New Bern and Maynard Dufour of Newport was estimated at about $3,000 each, he said. Damage to the utility trailer and parked vehicles was minimal and there is no estimate yet on the structure damage.

NEWPORT — A car driven by a 93-year-old Beaufort man crashed into a wing of Newport Flea Mall on Saturday morning, hitting booths inside and one man, before exiting through the other wall.

The car, driven by Edward Lupton of Beaufort, stopped after striking a utility trailer and two cars parked outside, said Trooper R.O. Melby, who investigated the 11:15 a.m. accident for N.C. Highway Patrol.

“It caused quite a commotion and one man was injured,” said Melby, after leaving Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City about 1:30 p.m. where he checked on the condition of the driver and victim Francisco Dominguez of Newport.

Dominguez is in his 30s and Melby said, “He got the worst of the damage. He had on a neck brace when I was at hospital.” He and the driver were up and walking around.

“Lupton appeared to have hit the gas instead of hitting the brake,” Melby said. “He said he blacked out as he was parking his car.”

Damage to flea mall vending booths and contents operated by Isaac Brigman of New Bern and Maynard Dufour of Newport was estimated at about $3,000 each, he said. Damage to the utility trailer and parked vehicles was minimal and there is no estimate yet on the structure damage.

Lupton was charged with reckless driving.

Sue Book can be reached at 252-635-5665 or sue.book@newbernsj.com. Follow her on Twitter@SueJBook.